Head of Health & Safety

Your new company

A leading transport and infrastructure organisation operating in a highly regulated, safety-critical environment is seeking a senior leader to drive its Safety, Security, Health & Environment strategy. With a strong focus on operational excellence and sustainability, the organisation plays a vital role in connecting communities and delivering essential services on a 24/7 basis.

You will join a forward-thinking business with a strong commitment to safety culture, governance, and continuous improvement, working closely with executive leadership and influencing at board level.

Your new role

As Head of Safety, Security, Health & Environment, you will play a pivotal strategic role in shaping and embedding a proactive and transparent safety culture across the organisation. Reporting into the Operations Director with exposure to executive leadership and board stakeholders, you will lead the development, oversight, and assurance of safety and environmental systems across both operational and corporate functions.

Key responsibilities include

• Driving a high-performing safety and compliance culture across all levels of the organisation
• Leading safety management systems, including incident reporting, investigation, and continuous improvement
• Ensuring compliance with all relevant health, safety, environmental, and regulatory requirements
• Acting as a key liaison with external regulatory bodies and emergency response stakeholders
• Providing strategic advice to senior leadership on legislative changes and risk management
• Delivering ESG reporting and performance insights to internal and external stakeholders
• Leading internal audits, inspections, and assurance frameworks
• Developing and implementing training programmes to enhance capability and compliance
• Supporting operational teams across a 24/7 environment and fostering collaboration between different functions

This is a highly visible leadership role requiring both strategic oversight and hands-onengagement with operational teams.

What you'll need to succeed

To be successful, you will bring a strong blend of leadership capability, technical expertise, and stakeholder engagement experience within a safety-critical environment.

You will ideally have

• In-depth knowledge of health, safety, environmental, and security legislation across complex operational settings
• Experience spanning both operational and corporate environments (ideally across multi-site or infrastructure-based organisations)
• Strong leadership experience, including managing teams, driving change, and fostering a positive safety culture
• Proven experience working with regulators and external bodies
• Ability to influence and engage stakeholders at all levels, including board-level interaction
• Strong analytical, reporting, and decision-making skills
• Experience delivering safety improvement programmes and managing audits and investigations
• Excellent communication and presentation skills

A recognised professional qualification (such as CMIOSH or working towards) is expected.

What you'll get in return

In return, you will take on a high-impact leadership role within a respected organisation, where you can genuinely influence safety culture and business performance.

You will benefit from

• A senior strategic position with board-level exposure
• The opportunity to shape and drive a best-in-class safety and environmental function
• A collaborative and values-driven working environment
• The chance to work within a complex, operational, and purpose-driven organisation
• Competitive salary and benefits package (dependent on experience)

What you need to do now

If you're interested in this role, click 'apply now' to forward an up-to-date copy of your CV, or call us now.

If this job isn't quite right for you, but you are looking for a new position, please contact us for a confidential discussion about your career.

Hays Specialist Recruitment Limited acts as an employment agency for permanent recruitment and employment business for the supply of temporary workers. By applying for this job you accept the T&C's, Privacy Policy and Disclaimers which can be found at hays.co.uk